Elliott vows to rediscover scoring touch

STUART ELLIOTT is convinced he will soon regain the form which saw him recognised as one of the top marksmen outside the Premiership.

The 27-year-old Hull midfielder has managed just one goal for the club in the Coca-Cola Championship after finding the target 29 times in their promotion year.

However, he also found the net for Northern Ireland against Azerbaijan in a World Cup qualifier last month and that superb free-kick triggered a remarkable chain of events.

His side went on to win the game and more dramatically overhaul England four days later in front of a disbelieving Windsor Park.

Now the fans are looking for a repeat show tomorrow when Wales visit Belfast and Elliott would like nothing better to get back on the score sheet.

"My own form could be better," he said. "It is very difficult, though, to better what I did last year which was to get 29 goals from wide left.

"The expectancy levels have become massive. I have scored goals every season at every club I have played for.

"It will be no different this time around and it will come good soon. There is a saying, 'Once a scorer, always a scorer' and I believe that."

Beating Wales after the rousing win against England would be the icing on the cake, according to Elliott.

"I would love to win this one against another of the home nations, we have a tremendous opportunity.

"To beat England and Wales, the supporters would go into over-drive."

Northern Ireland remains in a state of football euphoria and Elliott got a first-hand view of the hysteria this week at training.

Hundreds of fans turned up when normally there are just a smattering of onlookers.

Belfast-born Elliott said: "It was absolutely amazing. Everywhere you go now people are wearing the green and white jersey.

"It was great to sign autographs and to have that popularity.

"The people here have been fantastic and supported us through thick and thin.

"With so much negativity about our country, this was a big positive."

Northern Ireland could finish third in the group ahead of Austria their opponents next Wednesday depending on results.

Elliott, though knows it will be tough against Wales the teams drew 2-2 in Cardiff last year.

"They are a good side and better than their placing suggests," he said.

"Wales managed to rattle England and it will be a physical battle.

"But we don't want to be seen as one-game wonders. Although that game against England will never be forgotten, we want to go on and achieve a bit more success.

"We want to make Windsor Park a difficult place to come to again.

"If we can beat England on own patch, we are capable of beating anyone here."

West Ham goalkeeper Roy Carroll and Luton midfielder Steve Robinson have returned home because of a hairline fracture of the thumb and a heel injury respectively.